Healthcare

Pharmacy Assistant

Become part of a leading workforce with an education in pharmacy.

Request Info!

Fill in the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible. International Students, please apply here.

Which country do you live in now?(Required) Please select a country

Select a program (Required) Please select a program

First Name (Required) First Name is required

Last Name (Required) Last Name is required

Email (Required) Valid email address is required

Phone Number (Required) Valid phone number is required

What is your highest level of Education?(Required) Level of Education is required

I consent to receive messages from Eastern College and have read & understand the terms provided.Mobile number will be used for Eastern College Alerts. Standard Msg & Data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out or Help for help. Msg frequency varies. Privacy Policy.(Required) Consent is required

Type

Diploma

Duration

32 Weeks

Internship

Available

Program Outline

View Outline

About The Program

The Pharmacy Assistant diploma program provides the opportunity for students to pursue a 6-week field placement for hands-on experience.

Career Opportunities

As a Pharmacy Assistant, you’ll work as part of a health care team to ensure that consumers receive the best possible pharmaceutical care. Graduates of the Eastern Pharmacy Assistant program may work for Pharmacists in retail pharmacies, home healthcare divisions/companies, insurance companies, institutional settings and pharmaceutical distribution wholesalers/manufacturers.

Employers Who Have Hired Eastern Grads

Costco Pharmacy
Shoppers Drug Mart
Pharmachoice
Jean Coutu Pharmacy
Walmart Pharmacy
Medicine Shoppe

Salary

100 %

Employment Rate*

$ 22

Average Wage/hr**

$ 27

High Wage/hr**

*Employment Rate based on 2018 contactable Eastern graduates employed in a related field.

Source: workingincanada.gc.ca

NOC Code: 3414 - **Wage data is for employees in all ranges of experience in the field, rounded down to the nearest dollar, and based on New Brunswick data. Local (or regional) income may vary.

Program Details

The purpose of the program is to prepare students with the necessary skills and academic knowledge for entry-level positions in retail pharmacies, as well as pharmaceutical companies.

This program provides an overview of the theory, principles and practices of the Pharmacy Assistant. Areas of study include prescription intake, pharmacy software practice, proper extemporaneous compounding techniques, controlling inventory, keeping accurate and confidential records, third party billing, acting within relevant legislation, and effectively communicating verbally and in writing. Graduates will be prepared to work as members of an interdependent health-care team.

The Pharmacy Assistant diploma program at Eastern College combines instructor led training with a work placement designed to prepare students for a successful career in healthcare. As a pharmacy assistant, you’ll provides services and assistance to pharmacists by compounding, packaging and labeling pharmaceutical products and by maintaining prescription records and inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products.

Graduates typically find employment opportunities in retail pharmacies and other environments such as mail order pharmacies, and in areas such as patient education within pharmaceutical companies.

Students enrolled in the program will receive:

Classrooms that stimulate real-world pharmacy settings, including relevant equipment;
Microsoft Office, Microsoft Imagine Standard, and Windows are included in the program fees.

Course Listings: New Brunswick

Anatomy, Physiology and Terminology 1

In this course you will gain a comprehensive understanding of medical language, including prefixes, suffixes, root words, and abbreviations, alongside anatomy and physiology concepts. You will develop the ability to analyze, spell, define, pronounce, and apply medical words that relate to specific body systems and their pathology. In addition, you will acquire the skills to accurately communicate medical information and understand the structure and function of the human body.

Community Pharmacy

This course will introduce students to the roles and responsibilities of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacy assistants. It will also teach students the procedures to prepare and dispense medications, which include prescription interpretation skills, billing and inventory, as well as medication safety. This course also addresses professionalism, work ethics, and communication in the workplace. Students will train with a common pharmacy computerized dispensary system. Using this system, students will enter prescription information, generate labels, fill prescriptions, and generate pharmacy reports.

Pharmacy Assistant Internship

Upon successful completion of all modules of this program, you will be placed in a 6-week, 200-hour internship in a community pharmacy. You will have the opportunity to apply your new and developed skills within a real-world environment.

Pharmacy Law and Ethics

This course provides you with a comprehensive understanding of the legal and ethical frameworks governing pharmacy practice. You will explore key legislation, regulations, and professional standards that impact the dispensing, distribution, and handling of medications. Topics include the Food and Drugs Act, Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, provincial pharmacy regulations, and the role of regulatory bodies in ensuring public safety. Ethical principles, professional responsibilities, and decision-making in pharmacy practice will also be examined. Through case studies and real-world scenarios, you will develop the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate legal and ethical challenges while maintaining integrity and professionalism in a pharmacy setting.

Pharmacy Compounding

"This course provides you with the fundamental knowledge and hands-on skills required for pharmacy compounding. You will learn about various medication dosage forms, as well as the principles, techniques, proper use of equipment and tools, and regulations involved in preparing customized medications. The course covers key compounding procedures used for non-sterile preparations, weighing and measuring ingredients, mixing techniques, and proper labelling and documentation. Emphasis is placed on quality control, accuracy, and adherence to compounding standards to ensure patient safety. Through a combination of theoretical instruction and practical lab work, you will gain confidence in preparing compounded medications while following industry best practices and regulatory guidelines. This course involves the application of both pharmacy math and pharmaceutical abbreviations in the compounding and dispensing of medications."

Career Planning and Preparation – Level 2

This course builds on concepts and skills introduced in the Career Planning and Preparation Level 1 course. In this subsequent course, you will update and refine your résumé and LinkedIn Profile. You will continue writing cover letters and learn the value of customizing cover letters to specific job postings. You will have the opportunity to apply this knowledge as you conduct a job search and write a cover letter tailored to an ideal job post. Through research, you will create a list of top employers and target current industry opportunities. You will learn about current methods for applying to job postings using technology. You will also gain an understanding of the job interview process, typical interview questions and possible responses, and expectations of both the interviewer and interviewee. In addition, you will engage in practical application of the interview process through role-play. Topics such as negotiating salary, self-management, and on-the-job success for placements and post-graduate employment will be also covered.

Digital Literacy for Professionals

This course introduces essential concepts and principles for navigating and working in a digital environment. Key topics include using devices, managing information, creating and editing content, communicating and collaborating with digital tools, and ensuring online safety and responsibility. You will also apply best practices for folder organization and file naming conventions.

Pharmacy Mathematics

This course begins with a review of fundamental mathematics and its application to pharmacy calculations. It covers essential math skills used in community pharmacy, including business math, prescription pricing, medication dosage calculations, compounding calculations, and prescription transcription for directions to use. To prepare you for diverse pharmacy environments, the course also explores calculations relevant to various pharmacy settings.

Pharmacology

"This course provides you with a foundational understanding of pharmacology, including drug classifications, mechanisms of action, therapeutic uses, and potential side effects. You will explore the principles of pharmacokinetics, learning how drugs interact with the body and how they are absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted. The course covers major drug classes, including prescription, over-the-counter (OTC), and controlled substances, with a focus on their applications in treating various medical conditions. Through lectures, scenarios, and practical exercises, you will develop the knowledge and skills needed to support pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in ensuring safe medication distribution. Students will be introduced to commonly used Canadian generic and brand name drugs."

Student Success Strategies

This course stresses the importance of developing non-technical skills to enhance personal, academic, and career success. The course will address strategies that are important for all adult learners, such as managing finances, maintaining health and wellness, understanding learning styles, setting goals, and honing practical study skills (such as memory, reading, and test-taking techniques). In addition, this course emphasizes strategies needed to succeed in your program, such as navigating technology efficiently, interacting and engaging with peers and facilitators/instructors, and managing learning time and space.

Standard First Aid/CPR/WHMIS

This course provides you with comprehensive CPR training. It includes the latest first aid and CPR guidelines and meets federal and provincial regulations for Standard First Aid and CPR Level C. The course includes the following topics: preparing to respond; the EMS system; check, call, care; airway emergencies; breathing and circulation emergencies; first aid for respiratory and cardiac arrest; wound care; head and spine injuries; bone, muscle, and joint injuries; sudden medical emergencies; environmental emergencies; and poisons. The WHMIS section of this course teaches you the basic elements of WHMIS 2015 and the Global Harmonization System. This covers the safety measures and guidelines to be followed when exposed to or working with hazardous materials.

Career Planning and Preparation - Level 1

This course will introduce you to and provide practice in using the tools required for a successful job search. The concepts covered in this course will help you maintain a career-focused approach throughout your studies so that you are better prepared to conduct a job search after graduating. Specifically, you will learn how to identify your soft and hard skills and how to articulate your abilities in a clear and concise Elevator Pitch that will appeal to employers and resonate with industry contacts. You will learn about the job search resources available to you including using career websites, creating LinkedIn profiles, accessing the “hidden” job market, and networking. You will examine sample résumés and cover letters and begin the process of creating your own professional résumés and cover letters that align with current conventions for content, organization, and formatting. You will also learn about the role of references, thank you letters, workplace philosophies, and strategies for success including maintaining a professional image and using proper etiquette when communicating with potential employers and industry contacts. An introduction to Occupational Health and Safety is also provided with specific focus on employees’ rights and responsibilities, workplace health and safety policy and programs, and hazard identification and control.

Admission Requirements

High school graduation or equivalent. For those without high school completion, please refer to the Program Overview at the top of this page or speak to your Education Consultant.

Career Quiz

Take a quick and easy quiz to find out more about yourself, your goals, and identify your strengths and social style. This quiz gives you suggestions for what career areas you might consider based on your likes and preferences. Give it a try now!

Take the Quiz

Success Stories

“Every single staff that I have had contact witht is very kind, considerate, ready to help no matter what, and always supportive. If you are willing to work hard on your studies, they have your back 100% all the way. I can't wait to see what the rest of my course brings.”

Corey

2019